Page 62 of Off Sides

I check my phone for the time for what feels like the hundredth time today and groan.

“I’m about to put you on the chain outside in the yard if you don’t knock that off,” Neal says from his desk without taking his eyes off the computer.

“Excuse me?”

“You’re annoying as fuck today with all this moaning and groaning and pacing. Checking your damn phone every seventeen seconds isn’t going to make time go faster.” He turns and pins me with an exasperated glare. “Go jack off or something, that’ll kill, like, two minutes.”

I laugh even though I want to be offended. “First off, fuck you and your two minutes?—”

“If that’s what it takes to make you shut up, I’ll take one for the team.” He sighs and stands up, pulling on his shirt.

“If you come any closer to me, I’m pissing on your pillow.”

Neal contemplates that for a second before shrugging and sitting back down. “Don’t make me get the chloroform.”

That makes me pause my pacing. “We don’t have chloroform on campus.”

“That you know of…”

Well, that’s terrifying.

I look at my phone again and groan but grab my shoes and leave the room. Unfortunately, Neal is right and pacing my room doesn’t make the time go by any faster. I take the stairs just to take up more time and head to Roasted Mountains for that drink thingy the coffee witch made for me. I should probably remember what that was…

When I enter, the coffee witch is behind the counter and lifts an eyebrow at me.

“Back again, I see.” She smiles at me when I come to the counter.

“Yeah, I’m killing time. Hey, do you remember what concoction you brewed for me? Something with hot chocolate, I think?” I put my palms together like I’m praying and try to look desperate. I mean, I am desperate, so it shouldn’t be hard.

“Yeah, I got you.” She puts in the order and asks me for a name.

“You’re a goddess.” I bow to her and tell her my name while she shakes her head and walks away. She loves me. I can tell.

A minute later, she calls my name and gives me the to-go cup and a cookie. I love cookies. I should take Joey to meet Debbi and get more pastries to eat off his dick…

“You’re the best, coffee witch!” I holler as I leave and she shakes her head but I hear someone laugh in the back.

After wandering around campus for a while, I make my way back to the rink where the buses will drop off the players and all their shit. I’ve finished my drink and the cookie and now my stomach hurts from all the sugar, but oh well.

The bus finally pulls into the parking lot and I swear my blood starts vibrating. What if he doesn’t want me here when he gets off the bus? Is it weird that I’m just standing here waiting?

I look around and there’s a few girls hanging around too, but I’m guessing those are either puck bunnies or girlfriends. Fuck. This looks weird. I should have just waited at the dorms. Too late now, I’m sure I’ve been spotted.

The bus stops and though I can’t hear what is said, the head coach is saying something. Probably along the lines of “don’t be idiots, you have practice tomorrow” since that’s what we were always told.

I shove my hands into my pockets and bounce on my toes, just to have something to do. The team streams out, the storage under the bus is opened, and everything is put on the sidewalk for the guys to grab. Joey’s eyes meet mine as he steps off the bus and a smile tries to lift his lips but he tamps it down. From where I’m standing, I can watch the blush pinken his cheeks and some of the nerves in my stomach settle.

It's dark and cold since the sun went down a few hours ago and it’s February, but I don’t let it bother me. They’ve been on the bus all day, they’re tired, achy, and probably hungry.

With surprising efficiency, they clear out the personal bags, and the equipment manager deals with what is left.

Bryce gives me a head nod on his way past me but I can’t take my eyes away from Joey. The big man with a soft heart and the need to help holds my attention like nothing else ever has. I’m obsessed.

He makes his way toward me with his head dipped a little, not looking me in the eyes, and a shy smile on his lips.

“Hi,” he says, glancing up quickly before looking back at my shoulder.

“Hi.” I want to reach for him, wrap him in a hug, hold his hand, but I don’t know how he’ll react. “Are you hungry?”

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